That's Not My Name

was one of those books where so many things are missed in the best way — and that’s exactly why it works so well. Nothing is overexplained. Nothing is spoon-fed. The story trusts you to stay engaged, to notice what feels off, and to sit with unanswered questions until they matter. The core is an amnesia + kidnapping thriller, but the structure is what really shines. The way information is withheld feels intentional, not sloppy. There are gaps — but they’re purposeful gaps. Moments where you think something might be a plot hole, only to realize later that it was a choice. And yes… I absolutely missed some things on the first pass, which only made the payoff better. The FMC was strong and kind, even while questioning everything around her. That balance mattered. She never felt passive — just human. The MMC, though? Easily one of the best parts of the book. Honest, steady, and clearly in love with Lola in a way that felt grounded and earned. No ego, no games — just sincerity. Pacing was perfect. It hooked me fast and never let go. I flew through it because it kept rewarding attention rather than relying on shock. Every reveal felt earned, and the story absolutely stuck the landing. I might’ve cried if I hadn’t been racing the clock at the end of the night. ⭐ Final Rating: 5 stars Best part: the intentional restraint — the way the author respects the reader’s intelligence Re-read potential: probably not, but I’ll definitely recommend Who should read/listen: If you love smart, quietly tense thrillers that trust you to think, notice patterns, and connect dots without being guided every step of the way, this is absolutely worth your time. Especially good for readers who appreciate craft and restraint over nonstop action.

This book grabbed me from the start. I read it in one day. The twist at the end shocked me!!

That’s Not My Name is one of those thrillers where you feel uneasy from the first chapter—in the best way. The premise pulls you in immediately, and the tension just keeps building as the story peels back layer after layer. Every time I thought I understood what was happening, something shifted and made me second-guess everything. The pacing is great (I flew through it), and the suspense comes from both big reveals and smaller, unsettling details. The characters feel believable, and the emotional stakes make the mystery hit harder than a typical “just for shock” thriller. If you like psychological thrillers with identity secrets, “wait…what?” twists, and an ending you’ll want to talk about, this one is absolutely worth the read.

Sigh, I wavered between 3.5-4 ⭐️ rating for a few reasons. First of all, this book is very much a YA read. The author is definitely a liberal. And some of the characters were quite annoying. Trying to be funny when they were anything but. Okay, so those are the things I didn’t like about the book. I did very much like the mystery though. The author redeemed herself by the way she dropped breadcrumbs of the twist at the end. In addition, I’m a mother of two teen girls. I can’t even begin to imagine what a parent(s) would be going through should something this catastrophic happens to their child. She even brought me to tears twice and I’m not a crier. Oh how I wish the book ended differently (as I’m a sucker for a HEA) however it did give some hope and relief. The story begins with a girl waking up in a ditch near a deserted road in the middle of the night. She’s bruised up and bloody. Has no idea how she ended up there and worse no idea who she is. A cop finds her and calls an ambulance. Yet she refuses to go the hospital…..why? That didn’t make a stitch of sense. Especially since she didn’t know who she was. The officer brings her to the station and tries to research who she might be but comes up blank. An older man comes running into the precinct to claim his daughter as missing when he sees her. He claims she is his missing teen daughter Mary who was in a car accident. The officer takes every precaution and insists the man must show proof, which he (Wayne) has no issue with and even allows the officer back to his cabin in the woods to check it out and make sure Mary is who Wayne claims she is. But there are many odd things that don’t make sense. Like Mary doesn’t have any clothing, they can’t locate Mary’s vehicle and Wayne is ridiculously possessive of her. She has a feeling her name isn’t Mary but Wayne has all this evidence that she is. So she waits for her memory to return. Then there is Drew, Max and Autumn. These are friends of a girl named Lola that has been missing over a month. Drew is Lola’s boyfriend and being blamed for her disappearance- which in a way he is. He’s annoying at best. So are the other two, however you feel for Drew bc he is being painted this awful person by people he’s known his entire life. He has to find Lola to clear his name but also bc he still cares about her. After pointless chapters of bickering, the three of them finally pool their heads together and begin to play detectives to track down Lola when a lead comes in (that Autumn’s dad (who is the towns sheriff) chooses to ignore bc he wants Drew to be the prime suspect). Sadly, there are good police officers and bad ones. Autumn’s dad is not one of the good ones. The savvy teens end up in the same town Lola was last seen…..do they find her before it’s too late?? Does Mary get her memories back? Why does Wayne want to keep a girl as his daughter if she’s really not?? All these questions and then some get answered. And the best part is the author tells you the answers the entire time throughout the book. You just have to connect the dots…….,

Just finished "that's not my name" by Megan Lally. Here's what I thought of this book. First off all, it was hyped up on a Facebook group where people said this was an absolute 5 star read, after reading I get why they said it, but it's not a 5 star for me. That's not my name all but suggest what the book is about now doesn't it. We have a teen girl named Lola missing, we have a girl that can't remember a thing, found, and a boy named Drew who has been pointed out as a suspect in the disappearance of Lola. A girl in a ditch wakes up but doesn't remember how she got there, and why does everything hurt so much? She has to move, a feeling of dread has her somewhat alert. After walking for a bit, a police cruiser passes and stops. At the police station she can't tell much, she just doesn't know. She doesn't even remember her name. That's when they hear a knock on the door.. "thank god! You found her! You found my Mary" The man, named Wayne claims he is the father of this girl, Mary? So.. That's her name? The police has been right to be hesitant, but after showing her birth certificate and documents he places her in his care. But, was that the right choice? Is Mary really, Mary? Lola has been missing for 5 weeks now, there is no sign of her, it's like she vanished into thin air. Drew, her boyfriend has been the main suspect and the sheriff is closing in. Drew on the other hand, has been spending all his money on printing fliers, missing person fliers. He's the only one that doesn't give up. She has to be somewhere, right? After a bit of investigating with Max and Autumn they have a lead, only no one seems to listen. So they chose to check it out themselves. What will they find? That's for you to find out. 4 star read! The end had my heart in pieces.

It was great!!

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ That’s Not My Name by Megan Nally is a gripping read that had me on the edge of my seat. This story wastes no time pulling you in with its fast-paced plot and emotional stakes. Drew, the main male lead, is determined and dedicated in his commitment to finding Lola. It is the main driving force behind the novel. With the help of his loyal friends, Autumn and Max, Drew embarks on a tense, emotionally-charged journey that kept me turning the pages. Their bond and determination to uncover the truth add real heart and emotion to the suspense. Megan Nally has written a thrilling and engaging mystery that is full of twists, emotion, and urgency. If you love a book that grips you and doesn’t let go, this one’s for you.

I don’t read much YA but I had seen lots of good reviews for this one, and I was not disappointed. There’s dual POV. There one from Drew and one from Mary. The disappearance of Lola shook everyone, but Drew has so much guilt. Not only does he think it’s his fault but everyone thinks it’s his fault. Her parents. His classmates. His friends. He’s the only still trying to find out where she is. In another county, a girl wakes up in a ditch and has no memories of why she is there or who she is. Luckily, a police office finds her and shortly after, her dad comes to the police stations looking for her. He says that she’s Mary but it doesn’t seem right to her. But he has proof that it’s her. Maybe it’s just because she has amnesia? She finally goes with the stranger after the police officer made a check around the property and verified more proof that she’s in fact Mary. Is Drew going to find Lola again? How far is he willing to go to find her? Is Mary going to remember who she is and why she was in the ditch? This thriller was great! I recommend even if YA is not your usual go-to!

Absolutely cracking debut from Megan Lally, I could not put this down. Whilst it's billed as a YA novel due to the fact that the main characters are high-school age, any fan of psychological thrillers with a serial killer twist would enjoy this book. Well observed characters, written with Sass, and keeps you guessing in all the best ways. Superb book!